Smoky Cocktails
Explore 24 Smoky cocktail recipes.
Smoky cocktails take a sharp turn from the rest of the canon. Where most spirit-forward drinks lean on weight, sweetness or bitterness, this family leans on character — the campfire edge of mezcal, the peat of an Islay scotch, the burnt-sugar pull of a heavily aged tequila. The Naked & Famous is a good entry point: mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and lime in equal measure, the smoke from the mezcal sitting on top of the herbal and bitter layers without overwhelming them.
The Ultima Palabra works the same shape with mezcal, lime, maraschino and green Chartreuse, while the Tia Mia is a Mezcal Mai Tai — same template, very different read. The Closing Argument and Mezcal Margarita both push the format harder into smoke-as-headline territory. Across the list you'll see two roads in: drinks that hand the smoke to mezcal, and drinks that hand it to a peated scotch float.
Both reward attention rather than thirst. Most are stirred or shaken short, most serve on big ice or up, and most live happily as a slow sip. Smoke also rewards a smaller pour — fifty millilitres is plenty, and the second one will read differently from the first as your palate adjusts.
If you've never been sure whether you like smoke in a drink, the Naked & Famous is the gentlest place to start.
Our top Smoky cocktail
Banderilla
Mezcal, Tequila blanco, Apricot brandy, Aperol, Succo di lime
More top Smoky cocktails
Ultima Palabra
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Succo d’ananas, Water, Ciliegia Maraschino
The Real Blood and Sand
Tequila añejo, Liquore di ciliegie, Vermouth rosso, Succo d’arancia
Rapscallion
Whiskey, Liquore all’anice, Sherry (dry)
Smokestack Lightning
Tequila reposado, Whiskey, Sciroppo di agave, Succo di lime, Margarita bitters
Sea Legs
Whiskey, Mezcal, Sciroppo di orzata, Succo di lime, Celery bitters, Aromatic bitters
Guillotine
Mezcal, Cynar, Vermouth bianco
Fumata Bianca
Mezcal, Suze, Vermouth bianco, Soda water
Smoked Chamomile Paloma
Hornitos Plata, Mezcal, Succo di pompelmo, Succo di limone, Sciroppo di miele, Soda al pompelmo
Naked & Famous
Mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse, Succo di lime
Closing Argument
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Ciliegia Maraschino
Smoked Pear
Gin, Mezcal, Liquore di lampone, Liquore alla pera, Lillet Blanc
Smoky Islay Old Fashioned
Whiskey, Mezcal, Aromatic bitters, Aromatic bitters, Zucchero
Ultima Palabra
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Succo d’ananas, Water, Ciliegia Maraschino
The Real Blood and Sand
Tequila añejo, Liquore di ciliegie, Vermouth rosso, Succo d’arancia
Rapscallion
Whiskey, Liquore all’anice, Sherry (dry)
Smokestack Lightning
Tequila reposado, Whiskey, Sciroppo di agave, Succo di lime, Margarita bitters
Sea Legs
Whiskey, Mezcal, Sciroppo di orzata, Succo di lime, Celery bitters, Aromatic bitters
Guillotine
Mezcal, Cynar, Vermouth bianco
Fumata Bianca
Mezcal, Suze, Vermouth bianco, Soda water
Smoked Chamomile Paloma
Hornitos Plata, Mezcal, Succo di pompelmo, Succo di limone, Sciroppo di miele, Soda al pompelmo
Naked & Famous
Mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse, Succo di lime
Closing Argument
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Ciliegia Maraschino
Smoked Pear
Gin, Mezcal, Liquore di lampone, Liquore alla pera, Lillet Blanc
Smoky Islay Old Fashioned
Whiskey, Mezcal, Aromatic bitters, Aromatic bitters, Zucchero
More top Smoky cocktails
Ultima Palabra
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Succo d’ananas, Water, Ciliegia Maraschino
The Real Blood and Sand
Tequila añejo, Liquore di ciliegie, Vermouth rosso, Succo d’arancia
Rapscallion
Whiskey, Liquore all’anice, Sherry (dry)
Smokestack Lightning
Tequila reposado, Whiskey, Sciroppo di agave, Succo di lime, Margarita bitters
Sea Legs
Whiskey, Mezcal, Sciroppo di orzata, Succo di lime, Celery bitters, Aromatic bitters
Guillotine
Mezcal, Cynar, Vermouth bianco
Fumata Bianca
Mezcal, Suze, Vermouth bianco, Soda water
Smoked Chamomile Paloma
Hornitos Plata, Mezcal, Succo di pompelmo, Succo di limone, Sciroppo di miele, Soda al pompelmo
Naked & Famous
Mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse, Succo di lime
Closing Argument
Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Succo di lime, Ciliegia Maraschino
Smoked Pear
Gin, Mezcal, Liquore di lampone, Liquore alla pera, Lillet Blanc
Smoky Islay Old Fashioned
Whiskey, Mezcal, Aromatic bitters, Aromatic bitters, Zucchero
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